The American Indoor Football Association(AIFA) was formed in October of 2006. Founders & Owners of the AIFA are John Morris (Baltimore, MD) and Michael Mink (Tampa, FL). Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Indoor football is a variation of American football with rules modified to make it suitable for play within ice hockey arenas. ... // For an extensive coverage see 2006 in athletics (track and field) May 12 — Justin Gatlin equals the 100m world record. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Lakeland Thuderbolts are a professional arena football team. ...

The AIFA was formed from Three Different leagues- The National Indoor Football League, The Eastern Indoor Football League, and the American Indoor Football League as well as expansion markets.

The American Indoor Football Association is located over 13 states across the United States. The AIFA is a professional Indoor Football League where games are played indoors in arenas across the country. The Teams play eight vs. eight football on a 50-yard turf field. The AIFA was formed to offer young men a chance to play high-level football and the ability to excel to the NFL, AFL, and CFL. The AIFA offers " Fast Paced Family Fun" and the chance for affordable family entertainment.

The AIFA's signature red, white, and blue footballs are given away at every game, the fans meet with players on the field after games to further the family experience.

In the AIFA's 2007 inaugural season, over 112 games were played as well as an Exciting season ending weekend featuring their 1st All-Star Game and AIFA Championship Bowl I held in Florence, SC. This Neutral Site was chosen due to both games being nationally televised for exposure for the AIFA all over the United States.

9/17/07-The American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) principles John Morris and Michael Mink announced the league has signed a three-year national television broadcast, mobile phone broadcast, and webcast licensing agreement with Simply 4Me Incorporated (www.simplyme.tv). Simply 4Me Inc is paying the AIFA $2.5 million dollars for the exclusive media and publishing rights.

Basic rule differences

The AIFA's red, white, and blue football

• Like other indoor football leagues, the use of a rebound net is not allowed because of a patent by the Arena Football League. The AIFA will be able to use rebound nets starting with its 2008 season, as the patent will expire in September 2007.
• One linebacker may move flat to flat but must stay in drop zone.(AFL changed to this AIFA rule in10/2007)
• Two offensive players may be in motion at one time vs. the AFL only having one
• Platooning and free substitution is allowed, meaning players do not have to play both offense and defense. The free substitution rule has since been adopted by the AFL.
• Franchises must have at least 9 players that originate from within a 120-mile radius of the team's home town.
• The AIFA is one of the few leagues in America to recognize the single, but only when a kickoff is placed between the uprights.
• The AIFA ball pattern is similar to that of the basketball in the American Basketball Association, with red, white and blue panels as opposed to the brown leather color of most leagues.

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 2. ... The Arena Football League (AFL) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ... In Canadian football, a single or single point is scored when the ball is kicked into the end zone by any legal means, other than a successful field goal, and the receiving team does not return the ball out of the end zone. ... For the league that began in 1999, see American Basketball Association (2000-). The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a professional basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged, in part, with the National Basketball Association (NBA). ...

2007 AIFA teams

North Division

• Canton Legends
• Pittsburgh RiverRats
• Reading Express
• Baltimore Mariners

AIFL team Name = Canton Legends Conference = North Founded = 2005 Arena = Canton Memorial Civic Center City, State = Canton, Ohio Conference Titles = none Presidents Cup Championships = none The Canton Legends are a professional indoor football team based out of Canton, Ohio. ... The Pittsburgh RiverRats are an American Indoor Football Association team scheduled to begin play in 2007. ... The Reading Express are a professional arena football team based out of Reading, Pennsylvania. ... The Baltimore Mariners will be a new American Indoor Football Association team to begin play in 2008. ...

East Division

• Carolina Speed
• Fayetteville Guard
• Florence Phantoms
• Huntington Heroes

The Carolina Speed are a franchise of the American Indoor Football Association scheduled to begin play in 2007. ... The Fayetteville Guard is a professional indoor football team. ... The Florence Phantoms are a professional arena football team based out of Florence, South Carolina, in the United States. ... The Huntington Heroes are a professional indoor football franchise and member of the American Indoor Football Association. ...

South Division

• Mississippi Mudcats - based in Tupelo, Mississippi
• Florida Stingrays
• Columbus Lions
• Augusta Colts

The Mississippi Mudcats are a team of the American Indoor Football League scheduled to begin play in 2007. ... Tupelo (IPA: [tu:pəlo]) is the largest city and county seat within Lee County, Mississippi. ... The Florida Stingrays, are a team of the American Indoor Football Association set to begin play in 2008. ... The Columbus Lions are a charter member of the World Indoor Football League that will begin play in 2007. ... The Augusta Colts are a professional indoor football team based out of Augusta, Georgia. ...

West Division

• Wyoming Calvary
• Arizona
• TBA
• TBA

The Wyoming Calvary are a professional arena football team. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Look up TBA in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up TBA in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Set to begin play in 2009

• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (expansion2009)

The Harrisburg AIFA team is an American Indoor Football Association team that began play in 2009. ...

Rejected for 2007 expansion, could join in 2008

• Bay Shore Brawlers - (formerly of Eastern Indoor Football League)
• Winston-Salem Wildcats (formerly of National Indoor Football League)

The Bay Shore Brawlers are a semi- professional football team based in Laurence Harbor, New Jersey. ... The Eastern Indoor Football League is an indoor American football league that comprises teams located in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. ... The Winston-Salem Wildcats are a team of the National Indoor Football League scheduled to begin play in 2007. ... National Indoor Football League is a minor league indoor football league that is based in the United States. ...

Defunct franchises

• Danville Demolition - were terminated from their arena lease [1]
• Montgomery Bears- Venue not air conditioned and out dated per AIFA guidelines.

The Danville Demolition are an American Indoor Football Association team that began play in 2007. ... The Montgomery Bears are a professional arena football team that play their home games at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama. ...

Teams no longer in the AIFA

• Baltimore Blackbirds - Withdrew from league. League says the team was expelled. Currently looking for new league.
• Springfield Stallions - originally planned to join league, joined CIFL. Team folded in CIFL
• Tallahassee Titans - Withdrew from league as no agreement for 2008 could be reached. Team signed with WIFL then league folded. Team was not able to meet AIFA guidelines to play in 2008.
• Erie Freeze-League did not offer a contract to play in 2008 due to ownership issues.
• lakeland Thunderbolts -Team went dark for 2008 due to ownership litigation. Team is for sale to play in AIFA in 2009.
• Johnstown Riverhawks- Team went dark for 2008 due to ownership private issues and for sale to play on AIFA in 2009.

The Baltimore Blackbirds are an indoor football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. ... The Springfield Stallions are an indoor football team that plays their home games at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. ... The Tallahassee Titans are an American Indoor Football League team to begin play in 2007. ... The World Indoor Football League is an indoor football league that began play in 2007. ... Template:AIFL team The Erie Freeze is a charter member of the American Indoor Football League and the team is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. ... The Lakeland Thuderbolts are a professional arena football team. ... The Johnstown Riverhawks are a professional indoor football team based out of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. ...

Championship games

• 2007: Lakeland Thunderbolts 54-49 Reading Express

American Bowl Championship Trophy won by Canton Legends in 2006 The AIFA Championship Bowl is the main championship game of the American Indoor Football Association. ... The Lakeland Thuderbolts are a professional arena football team. ... The Reading Express are a professional arena football team based out of Reading, Pennsylvania. ...

See also

• List of leagues of American football

This is a list of current and defunct leagues of American football. ...

External links

• AIFA homepage
• 2007 Season Stats